Dispensing container



Dec. 5, 19331 E, HOLMES 1,938,181

DISPENSING CONTAINER Filed May 19, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l E E E I '1 5 l 22 l 2? i I J4 Z I i 0 12 INVENTOR Andrew iffiolmea ATTORNEYG Dec. 5, A, E HOLMES I 1,938,181

DISPENSING CONTAINER Filed May 19, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Andrewflfiolmes ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 5, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEJ My present invention is concerned with an apparatus for containing and dispensing liquid and finds its preferred embodiment in a device for supporting an uncorked bottle in inverted position and regulating the discharge of the contents thereof.

An object of the invention is to provide appa-. ratus of this character of extremely simple,"

rugged, durable construction, which will obviate athe need for special care or delicate manipulation in assembling the bottle with respect to its support.

Another object is to provide a sanitary. dispensing apparatus which is peculiarly adapted for use as a bathroom or kitchen fixture, and which, when so used, not only expeditesand facilitates the dispensation of any desired amount of liquid, but is conducive to economy in the use of the liquid in that it minimizes the danger of inadvertently pouring out too much.

Another object is to provide a device of the character indicated, capable of convenient application to a supporting surface; of rapid inter-- change of empty and filled bottles without danger of breakage and so balanced that the possibility of upsetting a supported bottle by accidentally bumping into the support fixture. is remote.

In accordance with one form of the invention,- the device consists of a supporting bracket adapted to be secured to a wall or other support, and an open topped cup of tapered construction, having a valve controlled outlet in its bottom. The cup may be dropped into a correspondingly tapered ring integral with the bracket. Where a bottle of liquid is to be dispensed, it is merely necessary to uncork the bottle, and drop it in inverted position into the cup, the shoulder of the bottle frictionally contacting with the slightly tapered wall of the cup. The contents of the 40 bottle tend to flow out around the bottle neck to a sufficient extent to form a liquid seal, thelower end of the cup thus serving as a liquid reservoir, which may be tapped by opening the valve Whichis carried by the pendant valve fixture. Due to the irregularities in the shape of the bottle, such for instance, as embossed characters thereon where the bottle contacts the cup, the proper venting is afiorded through the space between the cup and bottle. In accordance with another form of the invention, the cup is of molded material and has an integral metal lined sleeve projecting from one side thereof. The support bracket is formed with a projecting rod adapted to enter the sleeve Land flattened on one side for engagement by a set screw passed through the sleeve. By'this arrangement, the operation of. screwing. the bracket .to a Wallis facilitated (there being no projecting ring to make the use of a screw driver awkward) and the set screw not only holds the sleeve on the rod but prevents rotation of the cup structure about the rod. Furthermore, the fixture may be made in attractive colors in ceramic materials, bakelite, casein, etc., to match the standard color schemes and standard fixtures commonly employed in modern bathrooms.

The invention may be more fully understood from the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a dispensing container, embodying the'invention,

Fig. 2 is a somewhat enlarged vertical sectional viewtherethrough showing the bottle in position and a portion thereof broken away,

Fig. 3 is a view similar toFig. 2 but illustrating a modified form of the invention, and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional detail on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Referring with particularity to the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, l

the supporting bracket may consist of a small plate portion 10, adapted to be afiixed to a wall or other support by securing devices passed through the openings 11. Integral with theplate portion and extending centrally therefrom, is a stem 12,"carrying at its outer end, the integral ring 13, the axis of which is preferably parallel withthe plane of the bracket plate 10.

The ring is slightly internally tapered in order to receive and-support the tapered cup member 14, which is dropped into the ring. Preferably this cup tapers g'raduallyab'ove its rounded bottom 15, the latter carrying a valve body 16 in which is mounted the rotary valve plug 17. The body 16 has a longitudinal passageway 18 extending from end to end thereof with which is adapted to be registered the port 19 in the plug valve by turning the valve handle 20; The desired ten-- sion is exerted on the plug valve to draw its conical surface against the corresponding side in the valve body by a tightening screw 21.

In use, an ordinary bottle of liquid to be dispensed such for instance, as the bottle 22, is uncorked and deposited in inverted position in'the cup 14. Some of the contents of the bottle escape into the cup and build up to a height sufficient to form a proper liquid seal. Due as above suggested, to unavoidable irregularities in the surface of the bottle itself, or to the embossed characters 23 which may be, for instance, the trade name or trade mark of the bottled liquid, the air will be forced out of the lower portion of the cup 14 by the inflowing liquid until such time as the desired seal has been built up. Thereafter, when the valve 20 is manipulated to effect discharge of some of the liquid from this reservoir, venting occurs through the space between the bottle and the cup.

As herein illustrated, the bottle will come to rest at the point where its shoulder frictionally engages the tapered cup member 14 and the mouth of the bottle will at this time, be a certain distance, usually a slight distance, above the bottom of the cup. By using a gradually tapered cup, as opposed to one with an upwardly facing support shoulder, there is substantially no danger of breaking the bottle or injuring the support fixture by dropping the bottle into place. Furthermore, the fixture and the member which it carries will present a well proportioned assemblage.

If desired, the liquid might be poured directly into the cup 15 and the latter closed by a vented cover of any type, but for the sake of simplicity of application, I prefer to simply uncork a bottle, invert it and drop it into the cup.-

An advantage is gained by the use of a cup which has only frictional contact with its sup. porting ring, since the assembly of the cup within the ring is equally as expeditious as the assembly of the bottle within the cup.

' There are no crevices or corners in which liquid might lodge after the contents of the bottle have been dispensed. The valve body 16 preferably has a flanged portion 16a projecting from a reduced body section or neck 16b. The neck 16b is inserted through a closely fitting opening in the bottom of the cup and the flange 16a spun over to complete the seal.

The cup itself, is of course, made of some material capable of resisting corrosion'or inert to the action of the particular liquid which it is adapted to contain. For many purposes metal ware, either spun, stamped or drawn, may be used to form the cup, but if desired, molded material of any character suitable for resisting the action of the liquid, may be used, as for instance, vulcanite, or phenolic resin product.

Inasmuch as the cup fits deeply into the ring and the bottle extends deeply into the cup, the center of gravity of the two removable elements of the assemblage is low enough to substantially negative the possibility of inadvertently dislodging the cup or upsetting the bottle.

In Figs. 8 and 4 I have illustrated another form of the invention in which cup 1511 is molded of some suitable non-metallic material such as condensite or casein or bakelite. The valve body 16a is in this case, integral with the cup but a similar valve 17a is employed to control the outlet passageway 18c.

The means for supporting the cup is quite distinct from that shown in Fig. 2. It consists of a bracket 10a adapted to be screwed to a wall and having a central rod 25 projecting outwardly therefrom. A sleeve 26 integral with and projecting laterally from the cup 15a is adapted to telescope over the rod 25 and be secured thereon by a set screw 27.

Preferably the sleeve is lined with a strengthening metallic tube or bushing 28 molded integral therewith and affording threads for the screw 27. The screw engages a flat 29 on the rod 25 in order to prevent rotation of the cup about the rod 35 as a center.

The type of bracket shown in Fig. 3 is less awkward to screw against a supporting surface, and the cup, due to the material used, may be made up in any of a variety of colors to match standard bathroom or kitchen fixtures.

It is to be understood that with either form of the invention, the cup might be made much higher in order to completely conceal the bottle if desired, and that the cups might be provided with suitably vented removable tops and serve as dispensing containers for any liquid material poured directly into the cups.

It will thus be seen that there is herein described apparatus in which the several features of this invention are embodied, and which apparatus in its'action attains the various objects of the invention and is well suited to meet the requirements of practical use.

As many changes could be made in the above construction, and many apparently widely dif-.

ferent embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof,-

it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Havingthus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:+

1. In apparatus of the class described, an open topped dispensing receptacle having an outlet valve at its lower end, said receptacle being adapted to receive an inverted bottle which frictionally fits therein, the receptacle being but slightly tapered atthe region of its engagement with the bottle, whereby the latter may be dropped into position without abrupt impact against the receptacle- 2.'.A liquid dispensing apparatus including a cup-like receptacle having a valve controlledoutlet at its lower end, means to: support the receptacle and a bottle adapted to be received and supported in inverted position within the receptacle, the receptacle being tapered to frictionally engage the bottle and the bottle having embossed char: acters thereon at that portion thereof which engages the receptacle whereby to assure venting access of air to the receptacle at a point below the point of engagement with the bottle there-.

with.

ANDREW E. HOLMES. V 

